§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what use his Department has made of private detective agencies or investigators during 1995–96 and 1994–95; what agencies have been employed; for what purposes; and at what cost to his Department. [30561]
§ Mr. HowardThe Home Office and its agencies did not employ private detective agencies or investigators for detective or investigative work during 1995–96 and 1994–95. However, during 1995–96, three companies were employed by the Prison Service to carry out pre-occupation searches of establishments following construction work etc. It is understood that these companies carry out private investigative work for other organisations.
The companies in question are:
- Network Security Management
- Pinkerton Consultancy and Investigation
- Sigma Projects
Payments made to these companies by the Prison Service for search activities during 1995–96 total £188,000.